Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Confusion Fuels Consumers' Medical Debt
Nearly 20 percent of U.S. consumers — 42.9 million people — have unpaid medical debts, according to a new report by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The findings suggest that many Americans are being trapped by debt because they are confused by the notices they get from hospitals and insurance companies about the cost of treatment. As a result, millions of Americans may be surprised to find they are stuck with lower credit scores, making it harder for them to borrow to buy a home or an automobile. (Boak, 12/10)
Meanwhile, the Congressional Budget Office forecasts that deficits will start rising again as retiring baby boomers use Medicare and Social Security -
After this year, the CBO is forecasting that deficits will resume rising for the rest of the decade as baby boomers retire and Social Security and Medicare costs rise. The CBO and other budget experts have warned that the current trajectory for the deficit is unsustainable and eventually could lead to a fiscal crisis. (12/10)
And the federal government reports that it recouped an estimated $5 billion in misspent health care dollars -
The federal government has recovered nearly $5 billion in misspent healthcare dollars over the last fiscal year, about 15 percent less than the same period last year. Investigations within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) led to roughly 1,000 criminal charges and 500 civil charges, according to a report Wednesday. The department also barred more than 4,000 people from federal healthcare programs. (Ferris, 12/10)
